From nominating unqualified loyalists to cabinet posts to unconstitutionally freezing spending to firing civil servants in violation of federal law, Trump has been pushing the envelope in his first two weeks in office. So far, the response of the GOP majorities in Congress has been very muted. Is that a good idea?
As Sir Thomas More advises Roper in “A Man for All Seasons,” if you cut down all of the trees in pursuit of the devil, there’s nowhere to hide when he turns on you. Who is to say that the FBI won’t show up at your door if you say something to piss off the man on golf cart after Patel is confirmed? What will stop a future Democratic president from using the powers you are conceding to Trump against you and the GOP?
Protecting the checks and balances in the system isn’t just a matter of idealism; it’s a form of self-preservation.